Dissolution: Forgotten Realms: War of the Spider Queen, Book 1

The War of the Spider Queen begins here. While their whole world is changing around them, four dark elves struggle against different enemies. Yet their paths will lead them all to the most terrifying discovery in the long history of the drow and set them on a quest to save not only Menzoberranzan but the entire dark elf race from Dissolution....

Homeland: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 1

This stunning new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel recounts the origins of Salvatore's signature dark elf character, Drizzt Do'Urden. This title kicks off The Legend of Drizzt series, which will showcase the classic dark elf novels in these new audiobook editions.

Daughter of the Drow: Forgotten Realms: Starlight & Shadows, Book 1

Beautiful as she is deadly, Liriel Baenre flits throught the shadows of Menzoberranzan, city of the dark elves. Amid treachery and murder that are the drow's daily fare, she feels something calling to her...something beyond this dusky world far removed from the sun. Yet as she ventures toward the surface and the lands of light, enemies pursue her unceasingly.

Brimstone Angels: A Forgotten Realms Novel

Rejected at birth and raised in a village of tiefling misfits, Farideh expects a life without friends, love, or control over her destiny. Then she makes a pact with a devil named Lorcan, and everything changes. Lorcan promises all she ever dreamed of and asks for nothing in return. Her twin sister Havilar urges Farideh to resist the devil’s sway. But Farideh’s not so sure. Lorcan may be dangerous but the power he offers is exhilarating.

Canticle: Forgotten Realms The Cleric Quintet Book 1

High in the Snowflake Mountains sits the Edificant Library, a place of scholarly study for priests, bards, and others. Now from the hidden vaults beneath the library a devastating curse is unleashed, and a young cleric must battle the terrifying creatures set loose by a malevolent, consuming essence that's been released, before his own brethren turn against him. Cadderly must put his studies to the test and enter the catacombs far below to save his brothers and himself.

The Companions: Forgotten Realms: The Sundering, Book 1

This latest installment in New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore's beloved fantasy saga, The Companions moves Salvatore's signature hero Drizzt into a new era of the Forgotten Realms. As Drizzt's fate hangs in the balance, he reflects on the lives of the trusted allies who stood by his side throughout his early life - the friends now known as the Companions of the Hall. Meanwhile, the first stirrings of the Sundering begin.

Elminster: The Making of a Mage: Forgotten Realms: Elminster, Book 1

In ancient days, sorcerers sought to learn the One True Spell that would give them power over all the world and understanding of all magic.... The One True Spell was a woman, and her name was Mystra - and her kisses were wonderful. It is the time before Myth Drannor, when the Heartlands are home to barbarians, and wicked dragons rule the skies. In these ancient days, Elminster is but a shepherd boy, dreaming of adventure and heroics. When a dragon-riding magelord sweeps down upon him, though, the boy is thrust into a world of harsh realities, corrupt rulers, and evil sorcerers.

Servant of the Shard: Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 1

The Assassin: Surrounded by dark elves, Artemis Entreri tightens his grip on the streets of Calimport. While he urges caution, his black-skinned sponsor grows ever more ambitious. The assassin will soon find himself on a path his most hated enemy has walked before him - a path that leads to a place where someone like Entreri would never be welcome. The Drow: Jarlaxle has ascended from dark Menzoberranzan with only evil intentions. The malevolent Crystal Shard’s influence on him intensifies until even the drow agents he brought with him grow fearful.

Shadowbred: Forgotten Realms: The Twilight War, Book 1

The Lady has spoken to me. It has already begun. Shadows move out of the shrinking desert, south to the rich and arrogant cities of Sembia. "Be brave, little man," says the shadowman, and the boy thinks his voice is surprisingly soft. "Stay with your mother. This will be over soon." The shadows swallow him and he is gone. On the edge of a war that will change the face of Faern, the world will find that not all shadows serve Shade.

Stone of Tymora

Meet Maimun - an orphan who couldn’t imagine how unfortunate it would be to discover a stone that makes him forever lucky. Fleeing a powerful demon named Asbeel, Maimun stows away aboard the ship Sea Sprite, where he encounters a cast of characters well-known to Salvatore fans: Captain Deudermont, Drizzt Do’Urden, Wulfgar, Catti-brie, and the dwarf Bruenor. Drizzt becomes a mentor to Maimun and aboard Deudermont’s ship, they sail the treacherous seas of the Forgotten Realms.

Twilight Falling: Forgotten Realms: Erevis Cale Trilogy, Book 1

Erevis Cale - simple butler or much, much more? The shadows grow long on the mean streets of Selgaunt...and the sun sets on one man's service to Sembia's merchant lords. The day's end finds Erevis Cale serving a new master, one who is beyond the petty accumulation of wealth. After all, what is gold to one who trades in souls?

The Orc King: Forgotten Realms: Transitions, Book 1

An uneasy peace between the dwarves of Mithral Hall and the orcs of the newly established Kingdom of Many-Arrows can't last long. The orc tribes united under Obould begin to fight each other, and Bruenor is determined to finish the war that nearly killed him and almost destroyed everything he's worked to build. But it will take more than swords and axes to bring a lasting peace to the Spine of the World.

Publisher's Summary

Goddesses vie for the soul of people...

Halisstra Melarn, convert to the cause of the goddess Eilistraee, was sent to the deepest depths of the Outer Planes to kill the demon goddess she once worshiped, but instead was transformed into a hideous creature bent to the vengeful will of her former mistress.

For the Queen of the Demonweb Pits not only survived her Silence but evolved into something greater than she was before - something that no longer needs to share the domain she calls her own.

Rosalyn Landor would have been a better choice for the narration. She read all six books of The War of the Spider Queen and her voice would have added consistency to the story.

Any additional comments?

While I don't think Dara Rosenberg is the worst narrator that I have every heard, she is clearly out of her depth with the subject matter (this also applies to the Darkwalker on Moonshae Trilogy). Rosalyn Landor, who voiced The War of the Spider Queen, would have given the book just what it needed... the right voice and consistency.<br/><br/>This should be re-read by Rosalyn in much the same way as R.A. Salvatore's books are all being (re)read by Victor Bevine.

I completely agree with the "Good Story, Bad Performance" review. She clearly does not like what she is reading and does not understand the story. I have been listening to audiobooks for years and have hundreds. This is the first I've ever found so poorly read that I can't stand to finish. Lisa Smedman must have been horrified when she heard this. The tone and inflection of her speech is the same as that of a pre-school teacher reading mother goose to three year old children. It is in this voice she describes murder and mayhem taking place in a level of hell. It must be no secret that the performance stinks if there is a specific template question like this in the review form.

I looked forward to this book, having really liked Lisa Smedman's contribution to the War of the Spider Queen series (and this character in particular). And I really tried to listen to it, but this narrator is truly dreadful in this context.Really, truly dreadful, like a very cheerful elementary school kid who still has to "Read -- all -- the -- words -- carefully -- in -- case -- there -- is -- A -- problem.

Please re-record this story with a new narrator. I really couldn't even finish the first chapter. I was really looking forward to hearing this story. Such a disappointment.

Would you be willing to try another book from Lisa Smedman? Why or why not?

I would be willing to try Lisa Smedman again as long as it is with a different narrator.

What didn’t you like about Dara Rosenberg’s performance?

Dara Rosenberg's voice sounds out of place for this story. I would expect to hear her reading a YA novel or a chick lit story. I expect this story to be dark and menacing. I think it would be better read by a woman with a deeper more sultry voice. Something to lure you in like a spider. I was unable to forget someone was narrating the story. Ms. Rosenberg sounds like she is reading this story for the first time and has no connection with the content. Her cadence changes in weird places. It is up and down all throughout the sentence. I feel like I have the audio equivalent to motion sickness.

i almost didn't want to finish. the book. the over enunciation of most words and over acting on the emotion was... annoying to say the least. there were times when it was clearly read lacking any flow. but a good story

The premise of the story is great, the way its read is not..I'd ask the narrator of the War of the spider queen Series to continue on doing this story and it would improve immensely.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

the story itself was good

What didn’t you like about Dara Rosenberg’s performance?

The narrator obviously doesn't understand the subject matter. Its like the narrator was reading it to a group of kids at a sunday readying at a library. The tempo is off, pauses in the wrong places, and feels like someone wants to brighten up this dreary drow stuff and make it abit more upbeat.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no..if this reading was a movie..it would be directed by uwe boll featuring linsey lohan

Would you be willing to try another one of Dara Rosenberg’s performances?

Never

What character would you cut from Sacrifice of the Widow?

NA

Any additional comments?

This is the first review I have put more effort into than just plopping in some star rankings. I felt I had to put in my two cents to warn others away. The narrator is awful. I have used audible for years, and this is the only narrator I simply just could not stand to listen to. I tried very hard, but just could not even finish it.<br/><br/>As others have mentioned this narrator reads like she is reading to a group of small children for story time. There are often random upward inflections that grate your ears. Names of people and places are broken down into their syllables like she is trying to teach you how to sound out words. This leads to something that should be just a name sounding like two or more separate words. Overall, the worst performance I have ever heard.<br/><br/>I hope Audible will re-record these with someone that is skilled in reading these types of books. I love Audible and desperately want to know what happens in this series as the per-cursor to it, War of the Spider Queen, was amazing. Until it is redone with someone else though I am afraid I just cannot stomach it, and may end up just buying or renting a physical copy.<br/><br/>With all of that in mind I recommend staying away from this narrator, Dara Rosenberg. She will make you hate the series, and detract from what I am sure is a really good read/listen normally. Maybe she thrives in another genre, but this is not it.

I enjoyed the story but found the narrator's performance poor. She pauses in strange places, her pronunciation isn't brilliant (I'm English she American so that can be forgiven) and the accents she puts on for different characters seems inconsistent. The recording is obviously edited and the transition between the different edits is jarring at times. Only by this if you're a Forgotten Realms fan.

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